redalien writes: "In 2008 I invited two policemen into my home and voluntarily gave them a DNA and fingerprint sample to help with a murder investigation, as they'd promised it would only be used for that investigation. I was never under any suspicion and could just as easily have said no. Almost a year after the investigation closed they have now confirmed that they've retained my samples and at my request have begun an investigation to see if there are sufficient "exceptional circumstances" to remove them.

I'm not the only one that was told samples would be removed, so if you've had such a promise from the police I recommend contacting their data protection registrar immediately."